CentralCHRIE President

Ajai Ammachathram
University of Nebraska, Lincoln
[email protected]

Greetings from CentralCHRIE!

Welcome to the 2025–2026 academic year!

My name is Ajai Ammachathram, and I am honored to serve as the President of the CentralCHRIE Federation for this term. As the Program Director and Associate Professor in the Hospitality Program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, I am deeply committed to advancing hospitality and tourism education through a collaborative approach, innovative teaching, and active engagement with both academic and industry communities.
I am especially excited to begin this new chapter with such a passionate and dedicated group of professionals.

Looking Ahead: Key Initiatives and Events

CentralCHRIE Conference 2025
We are pleased to announce that our annual conference will take place on 17-18 October 2025, at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. This year’s theme, “Reimagining Hospitality Education for Well-being, Meaning, and a Sustainable Future,” reflects our shared commitment to shaping a more thoughtful and impactful future for our field.

ZoomIn! Events
Our popular ZoomIn! series will continue on a bi-monthly basis, scheduled for the fourth Friday of each month at 1:00 PM CST. We encourage all members to participate and contribute to these engaging discussions.

We are also rolling out new membership initiatives to increase engagement across institutions and support emerging scholars. Our goals for the year ahead include strengthening academic collaborations, promoting interdisciplinary research, and enhancing student involvement in ICHRIE activities. As we focus on productivity, education, networking, research, and professional development, let’s also make space for something equally important—fun!

Here’s to a meaningful, collaborative, and joy-filled academic year ahead. I look forward to connecting with many of you and working together to elevate our industry and profession!

Ajai Ammachathram
CentralCHRIE President 2025-26

ZoomIn! Rewinds

October 2024 - "Empowering Next-Gen Experiences: How AI is Shaping the Travel Marketplace," was presented by Shane O’Flaherty, Global Director of Travel & Hospitality at Microsoft and former President and CEO of Forbes Travel Guide.

The session focuses on innovations in customer experience within the travel and hospitality industry. Shane shares insights from his current role at Microsoft, where he leverages generative AI and other advanced technologies to enhance experiences for both customers and employees, emphasizing productivity and satisfaction. He discusses how AI is reshaping the travel sector and addresses audience questions on applying these technologies to empower next-generation experiences in the travel marketplace. To watch the full video, please CLICK HERE.

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Friday, 2 December 2023 - Dr. Chris Roberts and Dr. Misty Johanson from DePaul University presented on writing external review letters for the tenure and promotion process.